The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa, taking place from December 10 to January 7. The series includes three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches, marking an important step in preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Babar Azam, the team captain, leads all three formats, supported by key players like Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha. Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns for the ODI and Test squads, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been included in the white-ball formats after sitting out the last two Test matches against England. Fakhar Zaman has been excluded from the squads as he works on regaining his form and fitness.
The Test squad welcomes back Mohammad Abbas, a seasoned pacer who last played for Pakistan in August 2021. His exceptional performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he took 31 wickets in five matches, has earned him a recall. Joining him is Naseem Shah, also returning after missing the England series, and Khurram Shahzad, who impressed during the Pakistan Shaheens’ series against Sri Lanka ‘A’. The Test squad also includes Mir Hamza, currently excelling in domestic cricket.
The selectors have opted for a pace-heavy Test lineup, excluding off-spinner Sajid Khan despite his remarkable performance in the England series. Noman Ali has been chosen as the sole specialist spinner, given the pace-friendly conditions anticipated in South Africa.
In the ODIs, left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim receives his first call-up, following an outstanding T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he claimed eight wickets, including a remarkable five-wicket haul.
Interim white-ball head coach Aqib Javed explained the selection strategy, emphasizing the need for tailored squads to suit the South African conditions. He highlighted that the decision to rest Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad was a part of workload management to keep him fit and focused for the ICC Champions Trophy.
The series kicks off with the first T20I in Durban on December 10, followed by matches in Centurion and Johannesburg. The ODIs are scheduled in Paarl, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, while the Test matches will be held in Centurion and Cape Town between December 26-30 and January 3-7, respectively.
Pakistan Squads for South Africa Tour:
Tests:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Aamir Jamal, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
ODIs:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)
T20Is:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)
Tour Schedule:
- 10 Dec – First T20I, Durban
- 13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion
- 14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg
- 17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl
- 19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town
- 22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg
- 26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion
- 3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town
Aqib Javed reiterated the team’s commitment to maintaining consistency in ODI selections as they prepare for the Champions Trophy while using the T20I series as a platform to blend emerging talent with seasoned players. For Tests, the focus remains on fielding a team equipped to handle the challenging conditions in South Africa.
